Update on Addie!

Pre Surgery Pic!

Well, Addie got her surgery done yesterday (1/27/11) around 4PM. We had a really hard time letting them take her back, even though we know it is the only way to get her better. The surgery only took about 20 minutes. The doctor basically did a small 1/2 inch incision in the left side of her neck so they could drain all the excess puss out that was reforming. They left a small drain in her neck to keep draining the puss while the antibiotics are working on killing the infection. The doc said he got about 4 teaspoons worth of nasty green puss out which would have taken months to kill with antibiotics.

Pre Surgery Pic!

Pre Surgery Pic! FYI: She will not take off her Christmas socks, but whatever makes that little girl happy!

She was SUPER grumpy after waking up from the meds they used to put her out. At about midnight TJ and I finally got her to sleep. She ran a very low pulse and low temp all night which is common in young kids from the anesthesia even though it made me a wreck all night. She is very tired and exhausted from everything.

The doctor came in today to check her and her drain had fallen out. He said that they usually take the drain out after the second day anyway so it wasn't a big deal. They will leave the incision open to drain anything else, and will have her go home that way. I guess instead of stitches they let it heal on it's own. He said everything looked good and her voice and cough sounded so much better now that they released all the pressure from the cyst since it was also entering into her voice box. She should be perking up more today then she has, which will show them signs that she is doing better. If everything goes well and starts healing correctly she will get to come home Saturday, but most likely Sunday. She has been complaining about her neck a bit, but hopefully after she rests for a while she will be happier and forget about it. Her Grandpa Carlson has been in California all week for work and will be able to come see her tonight when he gets off the plane. She can't wait to see her POPPY!!

Post Surgery!

We are excited to take her home soon. She is sick of nurses, and so are we. She got a new big girl bed a couple days before we came here and never really got a chance to sleep in it, so it will be fun to take her home to it. She wants her own bed. TJ and I want our own bed as well.

Post Surgery Pic!

Thanks for all the love, support & prayers. We wouldn't have been able to get through all of this without all of you. Addie loves all of you as well and when she feels better she will be giving out lots of hugs and kisses.

Heart Break!

On Monday, January 24th we decided to take Addie to the doctor because she had been running a high fever all weekend long. When I got to the doctor we noticed a large bump on the left side of her neck. The doc thought that it was odd and wanted to go make a call to Primary Children's hospital to talk to some doctors up there. After he got off the phone he immediately sent us up to the Primary Children's ER to go get it checked out. The doctors at PC took a CT scan of her neck and found out that there was a large mass cyst in there. The cyst was something she was born with. Basically some babies are born with this small pocket cyst on their necks and when they get sick it can infect this pocket to balloon up and get larger. They have seen these before, and said that they are uncommon but common at Primary's since this is where all the kids come. The ENT doctors took a large syringe and tried to drain out as much puss as possible from her neck. After that they admitted her into the hospital to work on her fever and infection that she had in the cyst.

On Tuesday, January 25th they came and took Addie's blood for labs to check where her infection levels were. They came back to tell us that the level's were the same and her fever had not gone away at all. The ENT doctors told us that it usually takes 48 to 72 hours for the antibiotics to start working with the body, and that we had to stay and wait it out.

On Wednesday, January 26th the lab levels came back higher than they were. They told us she should be close to a level .8, she was a level 8.1 after the first night, and now she was up to a level 12. Her fever however was getting a little better which was showing signs that something is working with her body.

On Thursday, January 27th the lab levels were down to a level 7 and she had not had a fever within 24 hours. The doctors and us were glad to see this happening, and thought it might since we hit the 48 hours mark the night before. However, the cyst in her neck is still growing and they think that puss is reforming back in there. They are going to take her into the operating room at 3:30PM to make a small cut in her neck to drain out the puss. They think they will help finish off the problem that she is having so we can get home.

We will most likely be at Primary Children's for at least 2 more days, even though none of us want to be. However, we know that this is the place we need to be to get our little girl better. We will stay at least until the doctors , TJ and I feel comfortable to take her home. After everything is settled down with the cyst and the irritation and infection are gone (in about a month after) they will operate on her and take the cyst completely out. They can't do that now due to how inflamed it is and how close it is to nerves, veins, and her air way.

Addie hates every nurse and every doctor here, but who can blame her. She has been up and walking around and playing the last couple of days. We are in good spirits and are determined to get her back to her cute, healthy, energetic self.

We are so thankful for all the support we have received through our family and friends. We are very lucky to have all of you in our lives to help us through these tough times. Keep praying for our little girl in hopes that she can get better quicker.

Happy New Year!

This year we decided it would be fun to have New Year's up at the Carlson Cabin in Bear Lake. It was a ton of fun. We did a lot of sledding, relaxing, and playing. We had a great time, and might start making this a tradition.

Addie and her Dad in the Rhino going to pick up the kids up at the bottom of the sledding hill.


Addie thinking she is going out sledding like this. She is so funny sometimes and full of so much personality.

All the kids banging their pots and pans at 10PM instead of midnight. This way the parents could actually enjoy our New Year's as well.

All the kids loved climbing this big snow hill. There was a ton of snow up there.

Addie giving me a cheese in the sun. Funny Girl!!

Taylor getting ready to go down the hill.

TJ and the girls going down the hill. What a Blast!

Christmas Time!!

Christmas time is so fun, but very exhausting. I do love the Holidays though. It always seems that everyone is in a better mood.

Thanksgiving Point

We decided to go see the lights a Thanksgiving Point this year instead of driving up to the SLC temple. Honestly, they were just as good if not better. We let the kids get out and go see Santa's Reindeer after the lights. Taylor thought that was AWESOME!!

Christmas Eve

We always get to go over to Aunt Amie and Uncle Rick's house for an amazing Dinner. They fix the best dinner ever for this special day. Thanks again to Amie and Rick for giving us something yummy to eat the day before Christmas.

Christmas!!!!!

We started the day off with lots of presents, and a yummy breakfast. Then it was off to the Evans for the family get together. After that we moved on over to the Carlson's to get together as well. It was a busy day, but so great to spend with all of the Fam. We missed seeing you Milan, Sarah and Family. We hope some day you will be back to the Christmas family parties.

Our cute little family. Christmas 2010

Addie's favorite toy. I still don't get it.

The girls have over 20 babies, but they always want a new one.

Gotta love Christmas. A kids dream come true!

Spoiled Rotten!

Also, Spoiled Rotten!!!!

Some of the Carlson kids.

Zach, Addie, Lexi, Taylor, Hadley & Carter

Not sure what this face is for, but it is funny and cute.

Taylor still excited about Christmas at 7PM.

Our two little Princesses. They are the cutest!

All in All it was an amazing year. We ended the year off with telling all of our families our GREAT news that we have a third addition coming in July!!!!!

Taylor's Dance Recital

We decided to put Tay back in dance this year. She LOVES to dance. It is one of her favorite things to do every week. Now that she is in the older class she gets to do two dances at the recital. It was so cute to watch all of those girls dance. The recital is my favorite part.

Tay in her Hip Hop Costume. So cute.

Taylor doing her hip hop dance. She is over on the far right side.

Here she is posing in her jazz costume.

She thought she was hot stuff that is for sure.

Shake that booty Tay!!

Good Job Tay! You are so cute dancing your booty off.